The Lisbon Convention

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The Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, also referred to as The Lisbon Convention, is an international agreement signed in the city of Lisbon, Portugal, in 1997. Until now, the convention has been signed by 50 countries and international organizations, such as the European Union (EU), USA, Australia, Canada, Israel, Turkey, New Zealand, Ukraine, Turkey and Russia.

Taking into consideration the growing academic mobility over the past years, the Council of Europe proposed the implementation of an international convention: the Lisbon Convention. The aim of this convention is to facilitate the recognition of foreign studies among the signatory countries. Unless a substantial difference is observed, a qualification issued by one of the signatory parties is recognized by the others. In the event of rejection of a qualification, the institution responsible for the evaluation must justify its decision. In terms of access to higher education studies, the Lisbon Convention guarantees that holders of an upper secondary school or high school qualification that grants them access to tertiary education in their home countries, will also meet the general requirements to apply for higher education studies in the rest of signatory countries.

[Click here to read the complete text of the Lisbon Convention] or [Click here to learn more about the European education system]

List of signatory countries of the Lisbon Convention

Source: Council of Europe, list of signatory countries of the Lisbon Convention.